Southern Illinois woman being assaulted plays dead to end attack

A Fairfield, Ill., woman told police she "played dead" after her husband choked into unconsciousness three times Monday afternoon and threatened to stab her with a knife. She told police it was the only thing she could do to keep from being killed.

Jessica Atteberry is being treated at Fairfield Memorial Hospital for injuries sustained in an alleged attack by her husband, Carl A. Atteberry, 33 of Fairfield.

Shortly before noon Monday, Illinois State Police received a 911 call from a "woman in distress." The emergency line remained open, but authorities were unable to identify the caller or her whereabouts.

As police tried to triangulate the caller's location, authorities received a call from the emergency room of Fairfield Memorial Hospital that a domestic battery victim had been dropped off at the hospital.

At the hospital, the victim told police that her husband had choked her into unconsciousness three times and threatened to stab her with a knife. The victim said the alleged attack happened in her husband's pickup truck at a remote location in Wayne County. She told officers she eventually "played dead" to keep him from hurting her any more.

As State Police were interviewing Atteberry, her husband showed up at the emergency room door and was arrested.

Carl Atteberry has been jailed on preliminary charges of aggravated domestic battery and unlawful use of weapons.